Trust, and believe my mother used to say. Unfortunately, it was usually concerning a warning that she would be giving. "Trust and believe, If you do that I will …….". It does not matter what came next, I trusted that she would follow through and I believed whatever the punishment was I would not forbear from it. Yet I know that my mother truly loved me. As she is looking down from heaven, I have a new understanding about trust and believe. God wants us to feel His great love. So, He has a plan for all his creation. And he knew we humans would mess things up. His plan was to be able to show his great love and compassion. Trust and believe that all the things He has said, all the plans that were made, will come to pass.

When we trust and believe are sins are forgiving. A new life begins -- "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2Cor. 5:17) The person becomes a follower of Christ. As a follower of Christ, a person relies upon Jesus in other areas of their life, not just for forgiveness of sins.

For example, Jesus said that He is the Teacher (John 13:13-14). He told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them, and that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things (John 14:26) and guide them into all truth (John 16:13). God teaches a person His ways and His truth. In terms of our values and our behavior, He cleans out stuff in our thinking that's not right, and shows us from His perspective what is correct. This is another way in which God loves us.

He is the One who knows all truth, and He wants us to build our lives on His truth. Jesus said...

• "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." (Matthew 7:24-25)
• "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

The most important part of following Christ is to learn from Him. By relying on Christ as our Teacher, He guides us into living a new life that is according to His will and is according to truth. He shows us how to live, and will even guide us in how to pray. When we learn what He wants from us, then we rely on His strength and power (the Holy Spirit) to do those things.

Following Christ is all about relying upon Him. He told His disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Read This article about my personal struggle on trusting God. Click here.

Like I, You may want to understand more about God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit>

To grow in your knowledge of God and His will for your life, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible. Follow this link and start with John

For info on having a relationship with God, see Knowing God Personally.